The grandson of the inventor of Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups is publicly calling out Hershey for allegedly replacing his grandfather’s high-quality ingredients with cheap substitutes—a move that betrays consumer trust and tarnishes an American legacy built on simple, honest craftsmanship.
Story Snapshot
- Brad Reese, grandson of H.B. Reese, who invented Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups in 1928, accuses Hershey of quietly replacing milk chocolate and peanut butter with cheaper compound coatings and crèmes across multiple product lines
- Reese posted an open letter on LinkedIn questioning how Hershey can maintaina quality reputation while fundamentally altering core ingredients, citing products like Mini Hearts, Take5, and Fast Break bars
- Hershey defends the changes as product line innovation with extensive consumer testing, claiming the original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups remain unchanged despite acknowledging formula adjustments
- The controversy emerges amid industry-wide cost pressures from cocoa price volatility, raising questions about corporate transparency and whether consumers are paying premium prices for reformulated products
Family Legacy Confronts Corporate Cost-Cutting
Brad Reese, 70, has served as an unofficial brand ambassador for Reese’s for over 20 years, operating a dedicated blog celebrating his grandfather’s invention. Recently, he published a scathing open letter on LinkedIn addressed to Hershey’s corporate brand manager.
His grandfather, H.B. Reese, invented the iconic candy in 1928 after spending two years working at Hershey, establishing the brand on what Brad describes as “a simple, enduring architecture: milk chocolate plus peanut butter.”
The family sold the company to Hershey in 1963, but Brad Reese maintains that his grandfather’s vision is being compromised for profit margins.
Grandson of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups accuses Hershey of cutting corners https://t.co/4J2zG10cTW
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) February 19, 2026
Specific Products Face Ingredient Substitution Claims
Brad Reese cited multiple examples of alleged reformulation, including Reese’s Mini Hearts Valentine’s Day release, which he described as “not edible” after examining packaging listing “chocolate candy and peanut butter crème” instead of milk chocolate and peanut butter.
He claims Reese’s Take5 and Fast Break bars, previously coated in milk chocolate, now use alternative coatings, while White Reese’s changed from white chocolate to white crème in the early 2000s.
These specific allegations challenge Hershey’s broader claims about maintaining product integrity, suggesting a pattern of ingredient downgrading that extends beyond regulatory compliance or product innovation.
Hershey Defends Formula Changes Amid Industry Pressures
The Hershey Company issued statements asserting that original Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups “are made the same way they always have been,” while acknowledging recipe adjustments across the expanded product line.
CFO Steven Voskuil stated in a 2025 investor conference call that formula changes underwent extensive consumer testing with “no consumer impact whatsoever.”
Hershey attributed some ingredient variations to regulatory requirements in the EU and UK markets, which mandate higher cocoa and milk percentages for “milk chocolate” designation.
The company faces legitimate cost pressures from elevated cocoa prices affecting the entire candy industry, though prices have recently dropped while retail costs remain high.
Consumer Trust and Transparency Under Scrutiny
The controversy exposes fundamental tensions between corporate profit management and brand integrity that frustrate American consumers, tired of being deceived.
Brad Reese reports that people frequently tell him that Reese’s products no longer taste as good as they once did, suggesting his concerns reflect broader consumer sentiment rather than isolated complaints.
Consumers face a troubling reality: potentially paying premium prices for reformulated products without transparent communication about ingredient changes.
This situation mirrors broader frustrations with corporate entities that prioritize cost-cutting over honest dealings with loyal customers who built these brands over decades of trust and patronage.
The lack of independent verification leaves core quality claims unresolved, though Hershey’s acknowledgment of formula changes, combined with Brad Reese’s credibility as the founder’s grandson, creates legitimate concerns about corporate accountability.
Whether the flagship Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups themselves have been reformulated remains unclear, but the broader product line changes represent a departure from the brand’s founding principles.
American consumers deserve transparency about what they’re buying, particularly when companies market products on legacy and quality reputations built by previous generations who valued honest ingredients over profit margins.
Sources:
LA Times: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups inventor grandson accuses Hershey of cutting corners
iHeart News: Reese’s grandson claims Hershey changed recipe, company denies allegations
